Ohio State continued their hot start to the season, improving to 5-0 for the first time since 2020–21, with a commanding 91-58 victory over Western Michigan at the Schottenstein Center. The Buckeyes jumped out early and put the game away with a 21–2 run over a 7:20 stretch in the middle of the first half, opening a lead as large as 30 points. They kept the pressure on after halftime, outscoring the Broncos 22–6 to dominate in every facet and cruise to an easy win.

Defensively, Ohio State held Western Michigan to just 34% shooting, including 5-of-22 from three, while controlling the glass 49–30. Offensively, the Buckeyes shot 49% from the field, knocking down 9-of-29 from deep, and turned 16 Bronco turnovers into 32 points, while sharing the ball effectively with 19 assists on 32 made baskets.

Christoph Tilly led the Buckeyes with 17 points and 7 assists, while John Mobley added 15 and Bruce Thornton chipped in 11. Amare Bynum and Devin Royal each recorded double-doubles, scoring 12 and 10 points, respectively, while hauling in 10 rebounds apiece. Western Michigan was paced by Brady Swartz off the bench with 20 points and Jayden Brewer with 12.

1st Half

Ohio State wasted no time getting on the board, pushing the ball ahead off the opening tip as John Mobley lobbed to a cutting Christoph Tilly, who was fouled and calmly knocked down both free throws. Mobley extended the early advantage moments later, stepping into a right-wing three off a feed from Bruce Thornton. Western Michigan responded with a finish in the paint, but Brandon Noel answered emphatically with a baseline drive and dunk. The Broncos added another bucket before the first media timeout, where the Buckeyes held a 7–4 lead.

Out of the timeout, the Buckeyes strung together the next six points to force a Western Michigan 30-second timeout. Mobley knifed into the lane for a reverse lay-in, and after a defensive stop, Devin Royal pushed the ball ahead to Noel for another dunk. Amare Bynum then found Colin White on the right block for a layup, stretching the lead to 13–4 to force the aforementioned timeout. The run continued out of the timeout when Gabe Cupps drove baseline for a layup before the Broncos finally halted the 8–0 surge with a 15-footer. Thornton quickly countered with a corner three, and after a Western Michigan response, an Ohio State turnover created a transition chance that ended with Thornton committing a foul, sending the game to the under-12 media timeout with the Buckeyes in front, 18–8.

Out of the timeout, Western Michigan went to the line and split the free throws, then capitalized on a Buckeye miss with a three to stretch their run to 6–0. Ohio State halted the surge with a short jumper from Mobley, and Royal followed by converting a pair at the stripe to steady the Buckeye offense. Moments later, Mobley struck again in transition, burying a three that re established control and prompted another Western Michigan 30-second timeout as Ohio State’s lead grew to 25–12. A Thornton steal gave the ball back to Ohio State where Tilly found Royal deep in the paint for two and after the Broncos stepped on the baseline turning the ball back to Ohio State and leading to the under 8 media timeout with the Buckeyes leading 27-12. 

Ohio State continued to widen the gap as Tilly knifed into the lane and drew multiple defenders, missing the initial attempt but creating an easy tip-in opportunity that Bynum converted. Following another Bronco turnover, Tilly—trailing the break—stepped into a rhythm three from the top of the key to push the lead even further. The Buckeyes’ surge kept rolling when Bynum buried a left-wing triple, capping a 15–0 run before Western Michigan finally answered to momentarily slow the avalanche.

The respite didn’t last. Tilly scored off the bounce on the next possession and later added two more at the line as Ohio State’s advantage continued to balloon. The onslaught hit another gear when Mobley jumped a passing lane, leading a transition break and lofting a lob to Bynum for a two-handed finish. At the final media timeout of the first half, it was complete Buckeye control, 41–14.

Out of the timeout, Western Michigan returned to the stripe and converted both free throws. The Buckeyes added to the lead when Mathieu Grujicic came up with a steal and drawing a foul in transition. He calmly knocked down both attempts to further pad the margin. After the Broncos connected from deep, the Buckeyes responded emphatically as Taison Chatman and Bruce Thornton drilled back-to-back triples. Western Michigan managed two more free throws and then beat the horn with a three, cutting slightly into the deficit but still heading to the locker room trailing Ohio State 49–24.

The Buckeye defense set the tone throughout the opening 20 minutes, holding the Broncos to just 26.7% shooting, including 3-of-12 from beyond the arc, while forcing eight turnovers that produced 18 points. Offensively, Ohio State operated efficiently, shooting 53% from the floor, hitting 7-of-18 from long distance, and recording assists on 12 of 17 made baskets with only five turnovers. John Mobley led a balanced first-half effort—one in which 10 of the 11 Buckeyes who saw the floor scored—finishing with 10 points, while Christoph Tilly added 9 points and a team-high five assists. Western Michigan was paced by Brady Swartz, who contributed 9 points off the bench.

2nd Half

Bruce Thornton opened the second-half scoring with a pair of free throws, though Western Michigan answered with a backdoor cut for an easy finish. Royal responded by grabbing an offensive rebound and scoring off the glass, but the Broncos countered with two free throws of their own. From there, Ohio State surged with six straight points: Tilly calmly dropped in a jump hook in the lane, Noel scored on a strong dribble drive, and Tilly then jumped a passing lane for a steal and breakaway finish. The run forced a Western Michigan timeout at the 17:17 mark, with the Buckeyes firmly in control, 59–28.

Ohio State capitalized on yet another Bronco turnover when Tilly kicked out to Thornton on the right wing for a three, pushing the Buckeyes’ early second-half surge to a 13–4 advantage and stretching the lead to 34. Western Michigan briefly halted the run with a basket, but Mobley answered in transition with an and-one finish to extend the margin once more. Cupps then forced a steal, leading to a sequence where Bynum tipped in his own miss, and Ivan Njegovan followed with a jump hook in the lane. Another Cupps steal set up Njegovan attacking the rim, where he split a pair at the line to make it a 40-point game. After a defensive stop, Cupps stepped into a three to balloon the lead even further. Western Michigan responded with a triple of its own, but at the under-12 media timeout, Ohio State remained firmly in command, 73–33.

Bynum split a pair of free throws to nudge the lead even higher, and although Western Michigan answered with back-to-back buckets, Tilly steadied the Buckeyes once again. Fouled on a hard dribble drive, he stepped to the line and sank both attempts. Royal followed by attacking the rim and drawing contact, sending the game into the under-8 media timeout with Ohio State firmly in control, leading 76–37.

Out of the timeout, Royal converted both free throws, and after a defensive stop, Tilly attacked off the bounce for an easy score. The Broncos answered with a basket, but Royal responded with a smooth mid-lane floater. Western Michigan connected from the left corner on a three, yet Tilly quickly found Noel cutting along the baseline for a dunk. The Broncos then strung together six unanswered points in a brief 9–2 run, but Mobley finished in transition off the glass to close out the scoring action. Ohio State cruised to a fifth consecutive victory, taking the final media timeout with a commanding 86–47 lead. 

After a Bynum bucket extended the lead, the Broncos scored on the other end to answer, beating the Buckeye defense backdoor. After White split a pair of free throws on the other end, the Broncos scored six more as the game got a little sloppy down the stretch. Njegovan stopped the run with a score off the glass. A Bronco triple ended the scoring in the Buckeye rout. 

Game Wrap

It was a complete team effort for Ohio State, as the Buckeyes put together a dominant 40 minutes against an overmatched Western Michigan squad. Every player who saw extended minutes contributed to the scoring, with all 11 players who logged meaningful time finding the basket. Ohio State displayed efficiency on both ends of the floor, leading from start to finish showing what they are capable of when they click on all cylinders.

The balanced attack, aggressive defense, and ability to capitalize on turnovers were key factors in the decisive win, demonstrating the team’s poise and depth in their hot start to the season. The Broncos entered the game as a strong rebounding team, but Ohio State controlled the glass, showing the emphasis the coaching staff has placed on that area.

The Buckeyes built a lead as large as 43 points, doing most of their damage in the paint, outscoring Western Michigan 46–26 inside. They also continued their success at the free-throw line, hitting 78% as a team. While the level of competition was below what Ohio State will face in upcoming games, this game was more about themselves and overall, it was an impressive effort, with the Buckeyes playing a mostly clean game and showing consistent effort on both ends—signs of hopefully what is to come as the season progresses.

Ohio State will finish their season opening 6-game homestand, returning to the court on Tuesday evening hosting Mount St. Marys in the Schott for a 6:30 PM tip airing on BTN.

-Jason Harris